Chapter 105: The Electric Fan Reward

As soon as Zhou Yimin left, Factory Director Yang gathered everyone who had been in the workshop and instructed them to keep everything confidential.

It had to be said—Director Yang did have a sense of crisis. A product that could generate foreign exchange through export? Plenty of units would be eager to get in on that.

It wasn’t that he was trying to hog the benefits—if the state required them to share it so that more brother units could get a piece of the pie, he’d have no objections. He would absolutely support the organization’s decision. But if no orders came from above, then only their factory would produce it.

“Director, I think we should apply to change our name to ‘Zhonghua Instant Noodle Factory.’ What do you think?” Zhao Zhenguo suggested.

“Hmm! Very good idea. I’ll try to submit the application,” Director Yang nodded.

Adding the word “Zhonghua” (meaning “China”) made the whole name sound much more prestigious.

Besides, their factory would be mainly focused on producing instant noodles in the future, so calling it an instant noodle factory wasn’t wrong.

If Zhou Yimin found out, he’d probably say, “Calling it an ‘instant noodle factory’ is beyond tacky.”

When Zhou Yimin returned to the steel factory, Team Lead Wang immediately pulled him in to meet the leadership.

“Section Chief Zheng, Director Ding, Factory Director Hu—our steel factory really isn’t suitable for producing instant noodles, is it?” Zhou Yimin was pretty speechless. Were they really this desperate for foreign exchange?

They actually wanted to make instant noodles. What kind of logic was that?

“Weren’t they called ‘quick-cook noodles’ or something?” Factory Director Hu asked in confusion.

“You can call them quick-cook or instant noodles, either way. But our factory really isn’t fit for that kind of thing. If we want to do exports, we should develop a targeted product.” Zhou Yimin said to the leadership.

A steel factory making instant noodles? Ridiculous. It just didn’t match.

This wasn’t the future, where conglomerates dipped into multiple industries and chased after anything that could make money.

“Then what do you suggest?” Director Hu and the others looked at him eagerly.

“Let’s talk about it later. I’d like to take a few days off.”

Zhou Yimin did have some ideas for “new products,” but he couldn’t just dump them all out like spilled beans. It had to be taken step by step. There were many products that sold well worldwide, and with the current level of Chinese technology and industry, they were absolutely within reach.

Considering that he had already produced three inventions this month, his brain had definitely been working overtime.

“Director, in my opinion, we should just let Xiao Zhou take a few days off first.” Director Ding didn’t care whether Zhou Yimin’s words were genuine or not. Since the man wanted a break, he’d go ahead and propose one.

“Alright then, let’s give Comrade Yimin five days off…” Then Factory Director Hu announced Zhou Yimin’s reward as well—he was promoted by one grade.

That was pretty much the upper limit.

To get promoted again, he’d have to go through standard evaluations.

He also received a 150 yuan bonus, various ration coupons, and—an electric fan.

It was quite the haul.

“Director, can I get a solar stove? I want to bring it back to the village school.” Zhou Yimin then explained the difficulties faced by the school in Zhoujiazhuang.

Director Hu immediately approved the request.

After all, it was a product made by their own factory, and it had been invented by Zhou Yimin. Rewarding him with one wasn’t excessive at all.

Besides, the request wasn’t for himself.

“How about this—on behalf of our steel factory, we’ll donate one solar stove, three thermal kettles, and a batch of pencils and exercise books to the school in Zhoujiazhuang,” Director Hu said generously.

Zhou Yimin hadn’t really cared much about these rewards, but still made a point to formally thank “everyone,” including the Party, the State, and the People.

The leadership couldn’t help but exclaim internally—good grief!

They might as well have him give all the speeches in the future.

After receiving his rewards, Zhou Yimin didn’t stick around for a second. He had absolutely zero interest in going back to work.

As for the donations from the steel factory to the school, Zhou Yimin didn’t have to bother. Zhou Dazhong would handle the delivery.

Just as he left, the factory’s broadcast began playing—a full three announcements in a row detailing Zhou Yimin’s contributions to the factory and the rewards he received.

“Master Yang, I heard Zhou Yimin lives in your courtyard?”

Yang Zhenhua grinned, “That’s right! A model youth from our compound…”

He started bragging, clearly proud.

The workers from his same workshop were filled with envy. If only Zhou Yimin had been from their compound! Never mind trying to get in on the perks—just having bragging rights would be enough.

Back in the siheyuan, when the women saw Zhou Yimin lugging in yet another pile of goods, they thought he had gone on a shopping spree.

“Yimin, you bought all this? That electric fan must’ve cost a lot, huh?”

This was the first electric fan in the entire courtyard. It wasn’t that people were too poor—most households could afford it—but they were simply too frugal to spend the money.

An electric fan was no small item. Like a bicycle, wristwatch, sewing machine, or radio, it was a major appliance and easily cost over a hundred yuan.

Zhou Yimin shook his head. “No idea what it costs. The factory gave it to me as a reward.”

At those words, the courtyard instantly fell silent.

In just one month, how many times had Zhou Yimin brought home rewards?

The first time was for the water pump. Both the factory and the neighborhood office gave him awards—cash prizes totaling several hundred yuan. It wasn’t a secret; practically everyone knew about it.

And Zhou Yimin didn’t hide it either. If he tried to eat a little better later on and someone questioned his finances, it’d only bring trouble. Better to be open.

“Is this because of the solar stove?” someone asked.

The story about the solar stove had already spread.

After all, the steel factory had expanded recruitment because of it. Some youths from the courtyard had even landed jobs because of the new production line. People in the courtyard had seen the stove for themselves—Zhou Yimin had brought one home and even demonstrated its water-boiling power.

Zhou Yimin nodded. “Yep.”

Everyone was full of admiration and showered him with praise.

No doubt, by tonight, the courtyard’s “youth” would once again be subject to a round of lectures. When someone else’s kid was outstanding and successful, comparisons were bound to be made with your own.

And comparisons always hurt.

Zhou Yimin carried the fan back home, followed by a crowd wanting to see it in action.

Zhou Yimin didn’t shoo anyone away. Instead, he graciously invited them in. He plugged in the fan, and it started humming, gradually speeding up, and a gust of wind began to blow.

In the heat of summer, the whole room instantly felt cooler.

The fan was nice, but it was a bit expensive and consumed electricity. Most people present weren’t willing to spend on one.

In their eyes, it made more sense to buy a bicycle. A bike might cost slightly more, but it was far more useful.

An electric fan used electricity, which meant electricity bills, and it was only useful during summer. A bike, on the other hand, didn’t need electricity, could be used year-round, and made commuting easier.

But since this one had been given to Zhou Yimin by the steel factory—no cost, no ration coupons—there was nothing to complain about.

Besides, Yimin didn’t lack for bicycles anymore.

Just look at that room—whoever married into that household was bound to live in comfort!

Too bad Old Zhou had already made arrangements. Otherwise, these aunties would definitely be trying to set Zhou Yimin up with one of their nieces.

(End of Chapter)